Apparatus for processing cereals



July 23, 1935. w. J. GARDNER 2,008,860

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CEREALS Filed May 7, 1934 Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED- STATES PATENT: OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the cereal processing art, and particularly to a machine by means of which cereals may be exploded for the purpose of breaking down the cell structure thereof.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved form of machine and method for exploding cereals.

The second object is to construct a machine for pufiing cereals in a manner that it will be easy to construct and at the same time simple and safe in operation.

The third object is to so process cereals that the time required will be shortened, thereby improving the fiavor and avoiding the removal of the bran covering which it is desired to retain on the processed particles.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device showing portions broken away in vertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line5-.-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the cam lock for the closure.

Fig. '7 is a section taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 1.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a horizontal base ID from which rise the upright standards II and I2 and the diagonal braces l3 which are secured at their upper ends to the standards l2. Between the standards I l and I2 is placed the cross tie l4 on which is erected an-intermediate standard l5.

Mounted across the upper ends of the standards I2 is a horizontal shaft l6 whose reduced ends i1 journal in the blocks l8 which are attached to the upper ends of the standards l2. A hand lever i9 is secured on one shaft end I 1 and a crank arm 20 is secured to the opposite shaft end IT. The crank' arm 20 is provided with a slot 2! which receives a pin 22 by means of which it is attached to the upper end of a lever 23 whose lower end is pivotally attached to the base ID by means of the pin 24.

Intersecting the shaft I6 is a tiltable journal 25 which is preferably integral with the shaft l6.

Through the journal 25 extends the rotatable shaft 26. The end 26-A of the shaft 26 which extends toward the standard i5 is provided with a tang 21 which can engage a corresponding slot 28 in the drive shaft 29 which forms an extension 5 for the shaft 26. The shaft 29 journals in the bearings 30 and 3| which are supported by the standards II and I 5. The shaft 29 has secured thereon a large pulley 32 which is driven through the belt 33 from the motor 34. 10

On the shaft 29 is placed a slidable sleeve 35 which is urged outwardly to cover the tang 21 and the slot 28 by means of a spring 36. The movement of the sleeve 35 is limited by the pin 31 which is fixed in the shaft 29 and projects 5 through the slot 38 in the sleeve 35.

, It will be observed that when the sleeve 35 is manually withdrawn to compress the spring 36 and the slot 28 is in a vertical position then the shaft l6 can rock on its horizontal axis. Obvl- 20 ously, any other means for holding the shaft 26 in a driving relationship with the shaft 29 could be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

On the shaft 26 is secured a collar 39 which 5 limits the sliding movement of the shaft 26 in one direction. On the opposite end of the shaft 26 and separated from the journal 25 by a spring 40, is secured a cylindrical retort 4|. The shaft 26 is provided with an axial opening 42 30 which communicates with the interior of the retort 4| through a screen 43 and connects with a pressure gage 44 through a check valve 45, it being understood that for convenience the gage 44 is mounted directly on the shaft 26 and ro- 35 tates therewith.

The retort 4| is provided with an inturned rim 46 partly to reduce its outlet opening and partly to reinforce this portion of the retort, as well as to provide a channel for a lead pack- 40 ing 41. The closure 48 is somewhat loosely mounted on the bar 49, one end of which is hinged by means of a pin 50 to the lugs 5| which project from the exterior of the retort 4|. The opposite end of the bar 49 extends be- 45 tween the lugs 52. I

The lugs 52 have journaled across same a shaft 53 which carries an eccentric portion 54 between the lugs 52. The eccentric portion 54 is cut away along the line 55 (as shown in Fig. 5). The bar 49 is provided with a slight notch 56 within which the eccentric portion 54 rests when the closure 48 is in a sealed position. The shaft 53 is rotated by means of a socket wrench 55 (not shown), and which is applied to the square portion 51 of the shaft 53.

In order to get the eccentric shaft 53 into its journals the lugs 52 are provided with bearing caps 58.

The interior of the retort 4| is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 59, the purpose of which is to agitate the grains 60 as the retort 4| is rotated.

A burner 6| is mounted on the swinging arm 62 which stops against the lever 23 while the burner is directly under the retort 4|. Any upward movement of the lever l9, which would of course depress the retort 4| toward thebposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, would cause the lever 23 to bear against the arm 62 and move the burner 6| out of the way to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the possible dropping of the'retort 4| upon the burner 6|.

The burner arm 62 is in reality the gas supply pipe and same extends into a swivel connection 63 which is supported by the bracket 64 from an upright standard l2.

The motor 34 is under the control of the switch 65.

Supported by the braces I3 is a cross piece 66 upon which is secured a stop 61 and a resilient member 68.

It is also desirable to provide a thermometer 69 for the retort 4| in order that it may be held at the correct temperature.

The purpose of the check valve 45 is to prevent the destruction of the gage 44 when the pressures are instantaneously removed therefrom.

The operation of the device is as follows: The shaft 26 is first moved to a horizontal position and the coupling sleeve 35 is moved over the connection between the tang 21 and the slot 28. The empty retort 4| is now sealed by means of the closure 48 and the motor 34 operated while the burner 6| is preheating the retort 4|. When a suitable temperature is obtained the motor 34 is stopped and the lever is depressed, thereby moving the retort 4| upwardly just past its vertical position, at which time the retort 4| engages the stop 61. The socket wrench is now applied to the shaft end 51 and rotated until the eccentric 54 releases the bar 49, making it possible to swing the closure 48 away from the front of the retort 4|.

A measured quantity of slightly moistened grain 60 is now inserted into the retort 4| which is again sealed by the closure 48 and locked in a sealed position by returning the eccentric 54 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The retort 4| is now returned to the horizontal position and the shaft 26 connected to the shaft 29 by means of the sleeve 35. The motor 34 is again operated until the moisture within the retort 4| builds up the desired pressure therein, which is indicated by the gage 44.

It is highly important that this pressure be released instantaneously in order to complete the process. To do this the motor 34 is stopped, the sleeve 35 is withdrawn with the tang 2'! in a vertical position, permitting the retort 4| to be lowered which automatically moves the burner 6| out of the way and the retort 4| now rests against the stop 61. The closure 48 is then unlocked by rotating the shaft 53 and the entire contents of the retort 4| are discharged through the instantly opened gate which swings outwardly and downwardly against the cushioned bumper '68. The recoil of the retort 4| is taken up by the spring 40.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described consisting of a base having an upright standard thereon, a horizontal shaft rockably mounted in sad standard, a journal supported by said shaft and normal thereto, a rotatable shaft within said journal having means for rotating same when in a horizontal position, a cylindrical retort supported by said shaft, means for holding said retort, a. closure for said retort, means for looking said closure in an instantly releasable position, and means for rocking said first mentioned shaft. whereby said retort may be inclined below the horizontal plane passing through its rocking axis or substantially in a vertical plane passing through said rocking axis.

2. A machine of the class described having in combination a standard, a horizontal shaft rockably mounted on said standard, a journal supported by said shaft, a retort supporting and driving shaft carried by said journal, means for driving said retort shaft when in a horizontal position, a retort mounted on one end of said retort shaft including a releasable closure therefor, a burner movably mounted under said retort and lever means between said horizontal shaft and movable burner whereby the downward movement of said retort below a horizontal position will move said burner away from under said retort.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a pair of upright standards having a horizontal rockable shaft mounted across the upper ends thereof, said shaft having a hand lever at one end thereof and having a journal formed between its ends whose axis is normal to the shaft axis, a retort shaft rotatably mounted on said journal, a retort mounted on said retort shaft having longitudinal ridges formed along the inner side thereof and having a releasable closure for the retort, a burner for heating said retort normally disposed thereunder, and adapted to be swung out of its position from under said retort, a slotted crank arm on said horizontal shaft, a lever between said slotted crank arm and said burner whereby a rocking movement imparted to said horizontal shaft, which will move said retort below its horizontal position, will cause said burner to move out of a retort heating position.

4. The device described in claim 3 together with a countershaft including driving means therefor, and means for operatively connecting said countershaft and retort shaft while said retort is in a horizontal position.

WILLIAM J l GARDNER. 

